Bamaiyi’s statement purely his opinion, nothing to do with the army –Agwai, ex-CDS
From Molly Kilete. Abuja.
Controversies have continued to trail the utterances of a former Chief Of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant-General Ishaya Bamaiyi, over his statement on the looted funds of former head of state, General Sani Abacha.
This is even as a former Chief Of Army Staff and Chief Of Defence Staff, General Martin Luther-Agwai, has disassociated the military from such claims, saying Bamaiyi’s claim is “his personal opinion”
Bamaiyi, who served as Chief Of Army Staff, from March 1996 to May 1999, had during his book launch titled “Vindication of a General”, last Thursday, in Abuja, described the Abacha’s loot as that of a media creation and nothing more.
He also said reportage on the looted funds was “the sexiest story that Nigerian journalists make from headlines.”
Bamayi said the so-called looted funds, were actually deposited by the late head of state to some ‘friendly’ foreign countries to enable Nigeria buy arms and ammunition for international peacekeeping operations in the West African sub-region. For this reason, he said, “It is in this same spirit that I feel obliged to offer some insight into what has come to be known as ‘Abacha loot.’ A lot has been said about the Abacha loot.
It is the sexiest story that Nigerian journalists make from headlines. The social media is equally awash with all manner of comments, including some expensive jokes about Abacha. But even more importantly, the subject of money supposedly looted by General Abacha is a key issue in Nigeria’s diplomatic relationship with many Western countries. I am not in a position to defend Abacha or suggest he did not tamper with the wealth of Nigeria, because I was not in a position to know how as a Head of State he handled Nigeria’s funds.”
However, General Martin-Luther Agwai, while describing the utterances of his very senior colleague as entirely his personal opinion in a telephone interview with Sunday Sun, in Abuja, said the fact that Bamaiyi is a retired army chief, does not mean that he can speak for the Nigerian Army, and advised the public not to take his views as that of the Nigerian Army.
The former CDS, who said he was present at the NAF conference center, venue of the book launch having gotten an invitation for the event, said the Abacha looted fund is a national issue and not an army issue.
He however commended Gen. Bamaiyi, for his courage and urged him to come out with the volume two of the book.
Gen. Agwai, in the interview with Sunday Sun, said: “Let me say with all sincerity, I was at that book launch and what he said was his own personal opinion. So how can I contest with his opinion? And I don’t have any fact. For example, if you want to talk about the Abacha money, I have read part of the book, I was still in service; I was not in cabinet, that money is not army issue. It is a national issue and remember that at that time, the army was ruling. So the army was involved both in governance and in professional duties. And that money had nothing to do with professionalism of the army.
“Let me even add one thing to you that when I was called to make my comment at the book launch, I did say that I like his courage, and that I am hoping he will now come up with the volume two of the book to talk on purely his knowledge, his understanding of the military, and tactical operational and strategic levels.
“So if he comes up on that one and he seeks anything about my opinion, I will talk on it.
“He said that is personal opinion and personal account of what he knew that happened at that time. And he even went further to say that he personally wrote the book and that he did not commission anybody to write anything.
“So anybody who wants to take him, should take him as a person and ask him the question and express his opinion to him. But not to the profession.”